Top Schools for Fashion Merchandising
A fashion merchandiser chooses what we wear. A merchandiser's job is to mix and match the hottest looks and styles of the year to provide shoppers with the highest quality international fashion. Fashion merchandising is a demanding, challenging and rewarding career that requires a lot of market research, consumer studies and knowledge of the hippest trends and styles. Fashion merchandising schools all over the world offer vigorous programs in merchandising. The program's goal is to guide fashion aficionados toward hot fashion industry jobs.
Philadelphia University
In the School of Business Administration, Philadelphia University offers a competitive fashion merchandising program. Majors in the program study retailing, merchandising, marketing and fashion management. Students also learn about the nature of fashion trends, clothing design and use of fabrics and make clothing. Philadelphia University's program prides itself on teaching students how, and where, to use their skills. The program encourages students to get interested in career opportunities in the fashion industry including buyers, department managers, merchandising managers, fashion coordinators, product developers and merchandise planners. Students in the fashion merchandising program will graduate knowing the language of the business, the building blocks of fashion (fibers, yarns and fabrics), as well as network. The university's fellow fashion students studying textile, design and manufacturing will be the experts merchandisers work with in the future.
This university offers certificate, bachelor's degree and master's degree programs. As of December 2009, tuition costs $22,140 per year.
Philadelphia University
4201 Henry Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 951-2700
www.philau.edu/SBA/UndergradMajors/fash_merch/
International Academy of Design Technology Orlando, Florida
The International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando, Florida, guides talented fashion designer and marketers toward careers in fashion merchandising and is a career-oriented school. The Fashion Design & Merchandising Program at IADT-Orlando is made for students who want to be challenged creatively and technically with the aim of attaining their dream fashion job. By researching market and trends, sales and business practice, and successful business models from around the world students focus on global fashion industries. Because Florida is one of the fashion capitals of the world, studying in Orlando is ideal-the fast-paced international city is loaded with entertainment, fashion shows, cultural centers and resources. IADT offers intimate classroom sizes so that each student receives focused attention from instructors and can participate on hands-on projects.
Students can choose to complete an associate of science, bachelor of fine arts or bachelor o fscience degree programs and can earn a degree in as few as 18 to 36 months.
International Academy of Design & Technology--Orlando
6039 Rio Grande Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32809
(407) 857 2300
www.iadt.edu/programs/fashion_design.asp
Ashland University
Founded in 1878, Ashland University-halfway between Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio-has a rich tradition in fashion merchandising and successful graduates. Majors in fashion merchandising are introduced to a rewarding career in fashion buying, selling, visual merchandising or retail management. The fashion merchandising program offers students an intense curriculum: fashion analysis, textiles and fashion evolution, marketing business courses, retail merchandising, and advertising. Students prepare for entering the fashion industry by preparing fashion show presentations, joining service learning projects such as working with local entrepreneurs to develop a line of bags or clothing, or designing a dress or outfit to present to the class (and hopefully market further). Most fashion merchandising classes include no more than 18 students.
Students can also choose to take their junior year off-campus to complete an associate of arts degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and return to Ashland to finish their bachelor's degree. Students can spend a month in Paris at the Paris Fashion Institute earning credits that will transfer to Ashland. Professors at Ashland University pride themselves in being able to work one-on-one with students so that they become familiar with a student's style, career goals and strengths. As of December 2009, Ashland University tuition is $19,778 per year.
Ashland University
401 College Ave.
Ashland, OH 44805
(419) 289-4142
(800) 882-1548
www.ashland.edu/programs/fashion-merchandising
Fashion Institute of Technology
At the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City provides the ideal, fast-paced, thriving setting for students who want to take their fashion marketing or designs skills to the highest level. To shape their talents into a successful (possibly high-profile) careers, the industry professional instructors at FIT share their expertise with aspiring merchandisers.
Students are encouraged to study beyond the classroom: tours to fashion showrooms, specialty shops, and buying offices throughout the city give students a real-world glimpse into the life of a fashion career path. FIT also offers full-time internships as well as semesters abroad. The International Fashion Merchandising Management Program in Florence and New York-the only one of its kind-encourages students to go abroad one year of their bachelor's program at FIT to study at the Polimoda International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing in Italy. Other programs are available in Australia, London, Hong Kong, Paris, Rome and Florence. Individually and in teams, fashion merchandising majors study fashion marketing, product development, planning and fashion management.
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
Seventh Avenue at 27th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 217-7999
www.fitnyc.edu
Tags: Fashion Institute, Ashland University, Fashion Institute Technology, Institute Technology, Philadelphia University, Academy Design